Gamma Knife surgery for metastatic brain tumors from primary breast cancer: treatment indication based on number of tumors and breast cancer phenotype

Abstract

Initial GKS resulted in excellent local tumor control rates, which were associated with prolonged survival and a low risk of neurological death for patients with up to 10 metastatic brain tumors from primary breast cancer. The authors recommend periodic clinical and neuroradiological follow-up examinations after GKS in patients with 5 or more lesions at initial GKS, because they carry a high risk of development of new brain metastases, and in patients with the HER2-positive phenotype, because they tend to have a favorable prognosis in overall survival. Last, the authors recommend additional GKS or whole-brain radiation treatment for salvage treatment if new brain metastases occur.